151. Q&A

Does the master choose the disciple or does the disciple choose the master?

First thing, it is actually the disciple who chooses the master. Because master never chooses. The master just showers. He is like the sacred river Ganga. He just flows. If you want, you will enter the river, immerse yourself, drink or play - whatever you want you do. But Ganga itself just flows. It does not choose. So it is with the master. The master is a choiceless energy, choiceless bliss.

So I can say that the relationship is established by the disciple. The disciple has got the ultimate freedom, the last freedom in establishing the master-disciple relationship. After establishing, whatever freedom he has will be lost because he will become enlightened! The last activity that you can do, the last choice which you can make in your life is choosing your master, that's all. The moment you choose the master, you disappear as you. Then you are no more an individual. You become master.

master? Is the disciple justified in demanding some proof or does the master expect unconditional surrender?

First thing, neither can the disciple have unconditional surrender nor can he stop asking for proof. Disciple means he will be demanding solid proof from the master to prove he is authentic. Second thing, he will not have all the qualifications to be a real disciple. That is a disciple.

He will not be a perfect disciple but he will ask the qualities from a master to be the perfect master. That is the quality of the disciple. Don't worry about it.

The quality of the master is that he will not ask for unconditional surrender and constantly he will be giving you the proof that he is the real master. That is the master's qualification.

One thing, even if you are asking for proof or not ready to have unconditional surrender, it is ok. There is no need to give unconditional surrender. You can't give it also. Go on demanding for the proof, don't bother. You will have it.

As you receive the proof, unconditional surrender will simply happen in you.

How does trust develop between a disciple and a

Can anybody become the master or is he the chosen one?

Nobody needs to choose you. You need to choose you, that's all. Understand, fortunately masters are not chosen the democratic way! Nobody needs to vote for them! All you need to do is, vote for yourself, that's all. You need to choose yourself, nobody else needs to choose you.

Just decide consciously, from today I am going to live reality, the truth of my being. That is all the decision you need to make. You have become the master, that's all.

I always tell people that when I say I became enlightened on a particular day, do not think something had happened in my system. Of course, something had happened, but that is not the important thing that I want to convey.

First thing what happened is that very consciously I decided, let me live my enlightenment. When I decided this, as a side effect, something started happening in my body and mind. People always think that first the experience should happen and then you decide. No! First the decision has to happen and only then the experience happens.

Swamiji**, I would like to know the purpose of our life, the world, the universe and our god.**

If you know the purpose of your life, you will be able to understand the other three automatically.

The purpose of your life is the purpose of the universe. The purpose of the universe is the purpose of god. It means the purpose of your life is the purpose of god.

Be very clear, find out the purpose of your life and you will be able to find out the purpose of god. But unfortunately, I cannot tell you the purpose of your life.

One more important thing, based on what you think as the purpose of your life, you will attract that kind of a universe around you. You will create that kind of a world around you. You will be devoted to that kind of god. Understand, the purpose of your life decides the purpose of your world, the purpose of your universe, and the purpose of your god.

If your purpose is just money, you will create that kind of a corporate world around you, you will create that kind of a corporate universe, you will understand the whole universe as a business company.

So the purpose of your life is going to decide the purpose of your world, the purpose of your universe and the purpose of your god.

If you are enlightenment-based, if you feel that the purpose of your life is not money but enlightenment, suddenly you will see, you attract that kind of a society around you, that kind of a universe around you or that kind of god whom you believe will give enlightenment.

If you feel that you want money as well as enlightenment, then your universe will be that way. You will create that kind of a world around you. So I can say, the purpose of your life is the main core or thread. Unfortunately,… I am sorry, fortunately, I cannot teach you that! Only you have to find out.

Is the statement, 'When the student is ready, master appears' right?

Yes, the statement is right. When the student is ready, master appears. Sometimes, even when the student is not ready, out of compassion, master appears. He gives the possibility. Even people who are not ready can take the quantum jump. So I extend my hand for the possibility.

But these fellows sometimes bite the hand! What to do? Even then, I tell them, 'Bite. This is your nature. But I will extend my hand and help. That is my nature. Just because you bite, do you think that I will not give my hand? I will extend one more hand. Till that heals, alright, hold this other hand!' That is all.

Understand, sometimes there is a possibility for the disciple to take a quantum jump. So even when the disciple is not ready, the master gives the hand.

Swami Vivekananda tested his master Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Can I test you?

Once, when I was invited to address a college gathering, a student asked me, 'Have you seen god?' I asked him, 'Have you read Vivekananda's books?' He said, 'Yes. I have read Vivekananda's books. Vivekananda asked Ramakrishna this question. In the same way I am asking you, have you seen god?'

I just told him, 'See, when Ramakrishna said, 'Yes, I have seen god' as a reply to Vivekananda's question, Vivekananda left everything and walked behind Ramakrishna. Now, I am telling you, 'Not only have I seen, I will show you too. Come!' That fellow just disappeared in the crowd!

So understand, before checking out a master like Vivekananda did, first check

yourself whether you are Vivekananda or not. Then you can check me out.

One more thing is the trust happens at a much deeper level, not just by checking out critically. The path of doubts is also ok. There is nothing wrong. But let the doubting be open like the scientist's doubt. It should not be like an atheist's doubt. The atheist has already decided there is no god. So his checking out can't be called as doubt. A scientist is a person who has not yet concluded anything. He is still doing experiments with an open mind. Have the doubt of a scientist, not of an atheist.

How do I become your disciple?

Actually, if you are unclutched, you can get into my circle. Being unclutched directly connects you to me. A tremendous energy starts flowing through you. What do I mean by unclutched? Being relaxed without clinging on to any person or thought or thing.

I always tell people that the person who feels only his pain and comes to me for healing is a devotee. The person who has complaints only about his own problems is a devotee.

The person who feels my pain and takes the responsibility which I have taken as this whole mission, is a disciple!

The person who after taking my responsibility realizes, 'How can an enlightened being have pain? Whatever I thought as a pain before taking this responsibility is not a pain, it is nithyananda – eternal bliss,' then you become an insider!

So now you know how to become a disciple. Feel my responsibility, which is the responsibility of Existence. Then you will become a disciple.

How does a seeker know he has reached his master, or can he have many masters?

When you reach the master, this question, 'Is he my master or not?' will disappear. Be very clear. People ask me, 'Should we accept you as our master?' I tell them, 'Never do that mistake. No. I never promote myself. I can never tell you to accept me as your master.'

If I am your master, there will be something beyond your intellect - you will not be able to forget me. Now I challenge, if you can forget me, forget. Then I am not your master. Relax and continue your seeking. You will get the right master. Don't worry.

If you can't forget me, only then I am your master.

I always tell people, never accept me as a master. If I am your master, I will be there in your mind the whole day and whole night. I will be there even in your dreams. If thoughts of me fill you day and night, then I am your master.

People ask me, 'Swamiji, should I remember you? Should I meditate on you?' I tell them, 'No. Forgetting me will be the problem. Remembering me will not be the problem. Only then I am your master. If you can forget me, forget and continue your journey. That is good for you.'

If you are not able to forget me then I am your master. Even if you have one doubt in one corner, that is a solid proof I am not your master. Relax. Don't struggle. Don't suffer. Don't torture yourself. Just say a beautiful goodbye and continue. My love, respects and best wishes for you to reach the right master, the master who is for you. Start searching, you will see the right master. I myself have sent many disciples to many masters. I have guided many people that way. This is not like a shop. It is not as though if you come to my shop, you can't go to another shop. It is not a business.

I always tell people that even if you are my disciple, do not stop learning from all other masters. Pluck flowers from all gardens and make a beautiful bouquet for yourself. After all, life is to be enriched.

First thing is this very question of whether you are my disciple or not will not arise in you if I am your master. If you have this doubt, be very clear I am not your master. Continue your seeking.

Second thing is even if the doubt has completely disappeared and you think I am your master and you feel completely connected, even then do not stop learning from all the other sources, all the other masters. Learn from all possible sources.

After spending two-three years with you, why do people leave? How can they leave? Why don't you keep them?

That is the greatness of a living master. He never hypnotizes you. He never brainwashes you. He gives you all the possibilities. You can leave even after ten years. The doors are open.

An ordinary teacher will try to build things, teach things, create systems and setups from which you can't leave. But with the master, he gives you only the possibilities. All possibilities are open – to be in or to be out. Always, all possibilities are open, because this whole relationship is built on love, freedom, openness and compassion. When you are in love, you see this truth.

Only when you come inside, when you want to be guided by me, I interfere. Otherwise, I keep my distance.

See, when people come to me for guidance, they want to escape from their own dilemma. They know that a powerful security is present here, that a high intelligence is guiding here. But sometimes, their unconscious doesn't want to be guided. Even if I make them wait, they feel that they are not guided, or if I guide them, again they feel, that their freedom is lost. So when these kinds of things happen, I tell them, 'Wait. Slowly, slowly, whatever needs to evolve will evolve.'

Such people, when they leave also I tell them that they have full freedom to come back or leave forever, but never to abuse the guidance that they received when they asked for guidance. They should not judge the incidents that happened when they were in deep love with the mind that is there when that love is no longer present. They cannot judge the same incidents and the same truths without that same love they had at that time.